Top: Jeans West
Skirt: Charlie Brown
Shoes: All Black
I’ve been obsessed with finding a tutu skirt for a Very Long Time after falling in love with the skirts from Ouma on Etsy.
I had a bit of a stab at making one for myself, but it wasn’t entirely successful, so when I spotted the Charlie Brown tulle skirts that I’d been trying – and failing – to track down months previously I caught my breath.
I let it out again in a whoop when I discovered the trifecta of Happy Shopping: 1 – Finding the item you’d been searching fruitlessly for; 2 – In your size; 3 – On the sale racks.
It was down to nearly a third of it’s original price, so the hardest decision I had to make was: do I want it in the pink or the black?
In the interest of versatility – and on the advice of my wonderful readers, who voted overwhelmingly on Twitter – I decided to go for the black, and I wore it out today with a striped tee (the better to emulate the “Striped French Pierrot” dress from Ouma).
Verdict? I love it. I was a bit worried it’d all be a bit too much, and I’d feel self conscious, but honestly it just felt great and all the feedback I got was positive.
And surprisingly, it actually it quite versatile. As I was putting it away in my wardrobe I was thinking about how else I might wear it: belted, with a crisp white skirt. Teamed with a black singlet top. With a pretty pale-pink cardigan (like the one I saw at Forever New over the weekend. It had hearts on it. HEARTS.) With my black and white pussy-bow blouse…
What do you think? How would you wear this tulle skirt?
Love it! I have a tutu skirt too (from Dream Diva) and I hardly ever wear it, except to put it on now and then and twirl around in my bedroom. I feel a bit awkward about wearing it out except for certain occasions. I really want to, though.
Oh! I didn’t realise Dream Diva had done one. You should totally wear it more often, when I left the house I was feeling a bit… visible, and worried about sticking out like a sore thumb, but I really didn’t cop a second glance from anyone.
Too cute and I love that teeshirt. I’d be tempted to add a touch of red… mainly because I have to add red any time I wear black and white.
By the way, did you get any football related comments? The worst thing about living in Melbs was that I couldn’t wear black and white stripes without being asked if I was a Collingwood supporter *grrr*
I fortunately avoided any football comments, Kathryn! It’s not footy season (yet!) but I definitely get the football comments when they’re playing. Melbourne’s such a sports-mad town!
Oooh, so pretty! I would so wear red with it! Maybe that pretty red tank with the hearts that you wore the other day…
I do kind of love red… thanks for that, Erin!
I’ve been looking for a tutu skirt myself for ages and this one is perfect. Because tutu skirts tend to be a little too big to pull off every occasion and your is super versatile. Good buy!
Thanks, Papu. I liked that this one wasn’t too poofy.
The real question is, what DON’T you wear a tutu with? And the answer is, nothing.
I also love layering tutus under dresses for a fun petticoat look.
Such a good idea Katie! Thankyou!
Very cute, i love it!
Thanks Marina!
I’d actually wear it with what you are wearing now. I love the shoes and stripped top – so effortlessly chic! Its funny how its taken nearly 10 years for the tutu that everyone gasped at when SJP wore one in SATC but now everyone graves. I’m not *quite* there yet with wanting one but I love looking at this outfit on you! Looks fab!
I would also wear it like Katie above has suggested – as a petticoat under some of your beautiful dresses.
That should read “craves” not “graves”… you can tell its Thursday!
I had someone say to me that it looked very Sex & The City, but I never really watched the show (scandal, I know!) She was such a trendsetter though – I’m glad we’ve got tutus in general wear… now we need to get hats back into circulation!
I have been searching endlessly for a tulle skirt lately, after seeing how fab Audi makes them look when she wears them under other skirts/dresses! Gah! Why don’t I live in Australia?
It hadn’t occurred to me to wear it as a petticoat! Thanks for the suggestion!
Pretty !! I wear also a tutu skirt today.
Yay! Tutu skirts are so great! I like yours paired with the pink, too!
This look is just perfect! The wonderful thing about this tutu skirt is how beautifully it drapes. It doesn’t have that “poofy” aspect and instead looks so chic. I love how you’ve paired it with black shoes and stripped top! Just gorgeous, Lilly!
Thankyou, Bella! I was wondering why this skirt in particular draped so well, and I think it’s because of the yoke, so it’s not too full at the waist, but flares at the hips.
I am totally cuckoo for tulle skirts. In fact I’ve just looked in my wardrobe and counted that I have six of them in different colours. That one looks good quality – the drape is nice. You look spiffy!
Oh wow! What other colours do you have? I love my black but it’s tempting to go back for the pink, too!
I stumbled across your blog a couple of weeks ago and just have to say that I love your style!! Every pic I’ve seen so far is gorgeous. You have a real knack for knowing exactly what suits you and can pull off some seriously hot looks. Wish I had ‘the knack’ too!!
Thankyou, Little Treasures! For what it’s worth I take a lot of inspiration from other blogs, so it’s probably only about 30% knack, and the rest is copycatting and flukes!
That tutu skirt is so perfect, it drapes amazingly and is so flattering, I want one just like it! I like the way you’re wearing it now but perhaps you could add a red beret and red scarf in winter?
My other idea was a denim jacket (denim and tulle just seem to go together) or a mint green ladylike cardigan.
I am an absolute sucker for pops of red, and denim hadn’t occurred to me, but you’re right – they seem to go together perfectly! I have just the jacket for it… now to wait for the cooler weather.
I found an extremely tutu-esque pink skirt at a thrift store last year and don’t wear it nearly as much as I ought to. I bought it as a layering piece but it doesn’t match any of my dresses which seem to only every come in black + primary colour prints 🙁 Just ONE solid dress… any colour… I can make it work…!
You inspired me 🙂 Rocked it today with a black and white striped tee and a blazer jersey blazer, black tights, and black ballet flats. It’s cute! thanks for the inspiration.
Yay! That sounds great, I hope you felt fantastic!
Yay! I read ore recently that your wore it out recently. I’m so glad you were inspired!
SO CUTE! Definitely a keeper!
Thanks, Gretchen!
I love the idea of the light pink with this skirt. My first (and should have been only) dance costume was light pink with black bows….so cute! Once again…you look adorable!
Oh yeah – black and pale pink are so perfect together. And bows!
I love everything about tutus – all the tulle and the flounce and the whimsy! 🙂 I have been drooling over those Ouma ones ever since you posted them. This one seems like an excellent substitute though! And I think you should go back for the pink sometime too 😉
BTW, I was looking through your Tumblr that you mentioned in your last post (of course I had to, because you always post the best stuff!) and I saw you tumbled one of my pictures — I was so happy and flattered and touched! Thank you for your nice words 🙂
My absolute pleasure, Anjali! I just LOVE your style, and wanted to share!
(p.s. you should totally get a tutu! I’d love to see how you wear it!)
I love that skirt! It looks amazing on you! And who doesn’t want to feel like a ballerina?
I do! Hurrah!
The tulle falls very elegantly and glams up a working day without being extravagantly operatic, methinks – no problem with being balletic, though – it looks fabulous.
Thankyou, Mitzi! It does fall elegantly, doesn’t it? I think that it’s because it’s got a yoke, rather than the tulle starting at the waist.
So beautiful! It is such a great cut on you, and I love it with the striped top. I think all of the looks you said would be really interesting.
Thankyou! I love it with the striped top, too. Striped tops with everything, really!
Has anyone said yet that you look tu tu cute!!! Sorry, I couldnt resist. Love this outfit, love the tutu!!!!!
LOL, thanks Rochelle!
Love, love, love the tutu! You look tu tu fab, Lilli! The striped top really works well with the tu tu.
Thanks, Jo!
Black halterneck or strapless/corset top, your black high heels, hair up, and out dancing with girlfriends, with plenty of alcohol to make you a better dancer and to dull the pain in the (foot) balls.
I can just see it now, Cilla! Thanks for that!
I love your skirt ! I hope I coulf find the same kind of tutu in France !
Have a nice day!
Hi Marion, keep your eyes peeled – they seem to be everywhere at the moment.
I absolutely love, love, love the skirt. I have been searching for something similar for years. I love the way you paired it with the striped shirt and the black shoes, so cute!
Yay! I’m glad you like it, Rachel! Tutus seem to be everywhere at the moment, so keep your eyes peeled!
This just may be my favorite outfit on here. This skirt is absolutely amazing. The layering of the solid under the tulle black is so easy to dress up or dress down. I love that you have taken a “staple” classic (the black skirt) and put your own lillification to it. This is a peice you can wear a million different ways!
Thankyou! I love the skirt, I’ve had some really good ideas from my gorgeous readers, too!
Oooo I just discovered your blog from a blogroll and I adore it! Love the tulle skirt, this outfit is so french-chic. When I have a moment I will grab a tea and peruse back over your older pages – can’t wait! xoxoxo
Yay! I’m glad you found me, I hope you enjoy the back catalogue!
Hi Lilli, I just started reading your blog and love it! I have been delightfully entertained reading your back catalogue, and it’s given me lots of styling ideas. On the tutu skirt front, I actually saw quite a tasteful white one in Target on the weekend that you might like – thought I’d give you a heads up!
I’m steadily working back from the beginning of your lovely blog – having only just discovered it. Had thought a few times that I should comment but I couldn’t let this post go by without asking have you heard of spunkerella pettiskirts? They’re not tutus per se but they’re so gorgeous and colourful and I think you would look amazing in one.
https://www.facebook.com/pettiskirt
http://www.spunkerella.com/